happiness

noun

hap·​pi·​ness ˈha-pē-nəs 

1

a

: a state of well-being and contentment : joy

b

: a pleasurable or satisfying experience

I wish you every happiness in life.

I had the happiness of seeing you

—W. S. Gilbert

2

: felicity, aptness

a striking happiness of expression

3

obsolete : good fortune : prosperity

all happiness bechance to thee

—William Shakespeare

Synonyms

• beatitude
• blessedness
• bliss
• blissfulness
• felicity
• gladness
• joy
• warm fuzzies

Examples of happiness in a Sentence

They made a toast to long life and happiness.

her happiness was complete when she got her very own house

Recent Examples on the Web

Take this quiz to find out: Brain Fog Scale Mark Travers, Ph.D., is an American psychologist who writes about psycho-educational topics such as happiness, relationships, personality, and life meaning. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024

Ronnie here, swooping in with your weekly dose of happiness. —Ronnie Li, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024

TikTok viewers instantly fell in love with Gloria and filled the comment section with their happiness, as all dogs should get to experience this type of love. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

Key to this is Torres as Eunice, a woman who refuses to be defined by grief or cowed by police intimidation, and her determination to keep her family together is especially inspirational in today’s uncertain world, where happiness is fast becoming an act of rebellion in itself. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see happy

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

happiness

noun

hap·​pi·​ness ˈhap-i-nəs 

: a state of well-being and contentment : joy